Poetry, paintings, ceramic pieces, a fashion show and movie screenings helped kick off the exhibit, which features pieces from 14 art, film and fashion students.

The exhibit will run through April 20,. It will be closed during spring break from March 30 to April 8.

The IB art and film students are under the direction of Nogales High School Visual Arts Chair and teacher Jim Ellison.

"I'm trying to develop them to think conceptually," said Ellison. "To come up with more than just a pretty picture. They have to come up with a theme for their work and show."

The IB program at Nogales is a Higher Level Studio Art program where 60 percent of the students' grade is based on their artwork and putting together their own show and the remaining 40 percent is based on the student's historical work where they analyze and historically critique their own work.

The students have worked on their pieces all year but then had to work to present their work in an empty storefront space, donated by Puente Hills Mall management team.

"They had to clear all the things that were left here (by the last shop)," said Gina Ward, Rowland Unified School District public information officer.

Students painted walls, created a red carpet leading to the movie screening room in the back, made a runway for the fashion show and more, to have a proper exhibit space.

The IB art students used a variety of media for their work including acrylic paint, ceramics, mixed media and textile designs.

"I really like to push all media," said Ellison. "In the past, we've had photography, digital artists. This is only our second year of IB film. I'm so excited for the students."

The IB film and La Puente Valley Regional Occupation program students created short films ranging from 10 to 30 minutes long.

"We put a lot of work into (the movies and the premiere)," said senior film student Alberto Christian Hernandez of Walnut.

Hernandez worked with Vivian Alvarez and Kimberly Fernandez on the drama, "The Unidentified," and made his own drama, "The Diner."

Some of the film students worked together on films and also created their own.

"It was difficult finding time to get together (to work on the film)," said senior Hanagie Rivera of West Covina.

Rivera worked with Abel Corral and Bryan Medina on the film "Last Minute."

"Bryan came up with the story," she said.

"Then we all contributed to it," added Corral, a senior from La Puente.

The trio said their story has to do with how hard it can be to grow up in a `ghetto.'

"I want people to be able to relate to it," said Medina, a senior from La Puente, who has worked with Corral on short films before.

"I hope (the audience) likes the movie," said Corral.

The students were able to work in a million-dollar, state-of-the-art studio that was funded by grants. The students learned to record, live mix, edit and produce in HD, as well as duplicate in Blu-ray in the studio.

"(Ellison) saved us so many times with help," said Hernandez.

"Graduates also came back to help us," said Jarius Edward Fabian, a senior from West Covina. "They were in our movies. We recycled actors, we acted in each other's films."

Hernandez said there was more camaraderie than competition among the film students.

"We feed on each other for inspiration," he said.

"We give each other constructive criticism," added senior Nathan Miguel of West Covina.

Fabian and Miguel worked on the thriller "Noise" together. Fabian made the drama "Retribution" while Miguel created the action/drama film "Vindication."

Though many of the students were a little stressed as they finished prepping their exhibit space the Friday before, they were nervously excited.

"It's a good stress because we really enjoy what we do," said Miguel who plans on studying film as well as law.

For seniors Pitrizz Gangcuangco and Ulices Leyva, the excited stress also came with how their work would be displayed.

In Gangcuangco's work, "Evolving Morals," she used a combination of word art and cartoon in mixed media and used the seven deadly sins as her theme.

"I portrayed (the sins) the way I see them," said the West Covina resident. "The words, that's my style."

Leyva's ceramic pieces were inspired by nature in "Natural Rhythms."

"Most of my pieces relate to nature somewhat," said the La Puente resident. "It was an emotion that I wanted to release and sometimes I would go outside and hang out by the trees and come back inside and be relieved."

Leyva, who has worked with ceramics since he was a sophomore but was his first year in IB, said he first began his project trying to create functional pieces but weren't working out.

"I just let go, and it was just something that happened," he said.

For fashion art student Jose Perez, his "Beauty Killer" design work culminated with a fashion show during the exhibit opening.

"My designs were mostly inspired by the Marie Antoinette era," said the senior from West Covina. "Meeting the deadlines, staying up late sewing, it's hard controlling the lighting, the models (during the show)."

Perez was always into art but his interest in fashion began when he was 12 years old and learned to hand sew and knit with his grandmother.

For his fashion show, he considered the audience, although he admits his pieces are more for art than for everyday wear.

"I had to consider how to go from a simple dress to a bigger piece to shock (the audience)," he said. "The show's all about visual impact. It's exciting but exhausting."

In true runway fashion, Perez' finished his show with his `bride' which featured a dress with a longer train.

As much as Ellison sees potential in students and has ideas for them, he is only there to guide the IB students and not direct them.

"That is what I like about the IB (guiding only)," he said. "Every year we come up with the most unique ideas for art work and it's so fun."

Ellison believes it is easier to properly guide the students because he is still creating art himself, some of which has garnered him international recognition and awards.

He was also recently nominated for the Music Center's BRAVO Award, which recognizes outstanding arts educators in Los Angeles County.

"I really believe in the creativity of the individual," he said. "I have to let them trip and fall and learn. That way you get such creativity out of them."

Puente Hills Mall management donated the space for the exhibit. This is the second year the show has been held at the mall.

Sears also donated a flat-screen television to be used during the exhibit to stream messages and movie trailers.

Snacks and beverages were donated for the opening by Outback Steakhouse and Fresh & Easy.

The exhibit is located in space 101 on the upper level next to Sears in the Puente Hills Mall, 1600 Azusa Ave., City of Industry.

Gallery hours are from 4 to 9 p.m. March 26 to 30, April 9 to 13 and April 16 to 20; from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 15

Trailers of student's films can be found in the `Videos' link on James Bryan Ellison's staff page under About Us and Staff Directory on the Nogales website at nhs.rowlandschools.org.